MADRID, 6 Ene. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Real Madrid's German centre-back, Antonio Rüdiger, has become the leader of the defense of Carlo Ancelotti's team during the first part of this season, managing to reach an outstanding level of defense that has allowed the whites to finish the first round of LaLiga EA Sports conceded only 11 goals, making it the team that has conceded the least in the First Division and the third fewest goals scored in the five major leagues.
The match against Mallorca with which Real Madrid closed the first round of LaLiga EA Sports as winter champions is a true reflection of Antonio Rüdiger's second season as a target. The German center-back acted as the team's leader in defense and provided the necessary energy to the team to end up giving Ancelotti's team the victory with a header, causing the Santiago Bernabéu to explode, already chanting his name in every game.
Given the injuries to the fundamental pillars of the white defense in recent seasons such as Militao and Alaba, the focus of Real Madrid's defensive solidity fell on their shoulders, and their numbers in this first stretch of the season show that their performance has been outstanding. Rüdiger has been the defender most used by Carlo Ancelotti during the first 19 days of LaLiga with 1570 minutes, almost 400 more than Dani Carvajal (1180') who is second.
Trust to which the German colossus has responded with great performances. He is the second defender in the five major leagues with the most clean sheets so far with 9, only surpassed by Dante (Nice) who has 11. In addition, he is the leader of the League defense that has received the fewest goals in the entire first round (11), well ahead of Las Palmas, the second least conceding team in the First Division with 17 goals conceded.
Collective numbers accompanied by excellent individual records. The 'madman', as the Madrid fans have nicknamed him, is the Real Madrid defender who has made the most clearances in the League with 51, being also the one who has won the most aerial duels (30), as well as the one with the highest percentage of They have emerged victorious with a 65% success rate.
Although if there is one aspect in which Rüdiger's defense stands out from the rest, it is how difficult it is to dribble. Despite being the Real Madrid player with the most minutes, he is the one who has been dribbled the least by his rivals, being able to overtake him on only three occasions that we tried. A fact that is explained by the large percentage of successful tackles that he has under his belt, managing to snatch the ball from his rival almost 7 out of every 10 times that he goes to the ground.
The good season of the German international also translates to one of the weak points of his game: ball delivery. Rüdiger is the Real Madrid defender and the fifth in LaLiga who has completed the most passes with 903. A notable figure that accompanies them with an 89% accuracy rate. Furthermore, Real Madrid's '22' has generated four scoring chances for his teammates on the occasions when he has joined the attack.
Finally, when it comes to keeping the ball, Rüdiger has also taken a step forward, going from averaging 0.6 turnovers every 90 minutes, which ended in the rival's case last season with 0.2 so far this season. .
Outstanding performance from someone who is already one of the most beloved players for the Bernabéu fans. An Antonio Rüdiger who, despite being 30 years old and arriving at Real Madrid as one of the best defenders in the world, has known how to wait for the moment and take advantage of his opportunity when it comes to him, and demonstrate that currently there are very few centre-backs in the team. world that can be at their level.